About Us

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Mud Sweat and Tears Studio is situated in Blind Bay on the shores of Shuswap Lake, British Columbia.

In 1981, Bruce and Laura returned ro Bruce's native Canada from New Zealand. They lived in Kamloops for two years, then moved to the Shuswap, opening the Squilax Craft Post, in the old Squilax General Store. In 1986 they bought a house in Blind Bay and set up their studio.

In 2009 Grant became part of Mud Sweat and Tears.

Bruce and Grant go through over 12 tons of clay a year. They use both stoneware and porcelain and produce functional, sculptural, and one of a kind pieces.

Mud Sweat and Tears has an annual contract to make between 3000 - 4000 honey pots for Nicola Valley Apriary, in Merritt, BC.

bruce@mudsweatandtears.ca

Bruce was introduced to clay when Laura rented a wheel. Although he had never seen anyone throwing, he sat down and made a beautiful bowl.

Six months later he gave up his job as a Purchasing Manager, for two Particle Board factories, in New Zealand, to become a full time potter.

He makes a full range of functional domestic ware.

Every winter he throws 3000-4000 Honey Pots for an annual contract.

Bruce has a passion for crystalline glazed pots and is continuosly working to perfect his glazes. He has also experimented with post firing reduction.

In the winter of 2008-2009 when Laura had to have surgery, Grant offered to help with the annual Honey Pot contract. He had helped when he was in school, (one year he made enough napkin rings to buy a Vic20),

so he knew what the job involved. He helped with the turning, loading the bisque kiln, waxing, glazing and cleaning. When the honey pots were finished, he thought he would like to give throwing a try.

Just like his father years before he sat at the wheel and made a beautiful bowl.

Grant is interested in glazes and their chemical compostiion. He is also fascinated by crystalline glazes. Grant produces a range of functional ware in a variety of shapes.

Grant lives in Sunnybrae with his wife Chelsea, and their two children Sebastian and Natalia, and a beagle called Bailey.

Laura got involved in pottery when Grant and Marie were babies. She was looking for something to do outside the home. The only evening she was able to take a class was Tuesday, and the only things available were cake decorating and pottery.

Cake decorating seemed a little domestic, so she chose pottery.

There were 24 people in the class and only 8 wheels, so each student only got 20 minutes on the wheel each week. Hardly enough time to learn to center the clay let alone learn to throw.

She found it rather frustrating, so when she saw an advertisement for a potter's wheel for rent, she jumped at the chance.

They moved the furniture in the living room, laid down a big sheet of plastic and set up the wheel. While she was cooking dinner that evening, Bruce sat at the wheel and threw a beautiful bowl. That was the end of Laura's throwing career. For many years Laura used a slab roller and plaster molds to create platters and other serving dishes.

Marie has always enjoyed playing with clay. She helped with honey pots as a child and made small bowls which she sold at Craft Fairs. In high school she sold enough to finance a trip to Japan.

In 2000 she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerous and her dream of becoming a full tome potter was dashed. When she is able, she spends time in the studio helping Grant and Laura with glazing, and making small bowls as therapy for her MS.